Kinshasa music school

Summary

For more than fifteen years now, the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste (OSK) and its choir have been playing and singing classical music under rough conditions, propelled only by their passion for this music and the firm will to participate as the only symphonic orchestra in Sub-Sahara orchestra at this world cultural heritage. Our aim is to help them and others in Kinshasa to perpetuate this dedication by building up a professional institution for learning and performing classical music.

Challenge

For many musicians, the OSK is the focus of their life despite the complete lack of appropriate space for teaching, learning and playing classical music. In Kinshasa, OSK musicians can only practice after hazardous rides in overcrowded broken down minibuses or after walks over hours at the private house of the conductor of the OSK, Armand Diangienda, in four small hot and noisy rooms or in the courtyard. Also, there is no professional teaching in classical music available in Kinshasa.

Solution

In cooperation with the OSK and Armand Diangienda musicians from The WDR Symphony Orchestra and Choir from Cologne, supported by the German Ambassador and his wife, a professional music teacher, are planning the foundation of a music school, as a building and as an institution. The idea is to open this music school to everyone interested and talented in Kinshasa and beyond. CBS portrayed the OSK and the German musicians in their show "60 Minutes" in April 2012.

Long-Term Impact

The open music school will become known throughout Kinshasa and will make classical music a part of life also in Congolese society. In the long run, it could be the start of a professional classical music scene in Congo. A concert hall, not necessarily big, could be envisaged after as a nucleus of civil culture, a meeting point of all those interested in this music.

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